The roles and potentials of renewable energy in less-developed economies

Abstract

Increasing the renewable energy share in national energy mix remains one of the major energy policy goals across many economies. This paper assesses the roles and potentials of renewable energy sources in less-developed economies while citing Nepal as an example. Renewable energy has a significant role to play in the electrification of rural areas in developing economies and contribute towards sustainable development. Realizing full potentials of renewable, however, requires addressing both the associated demand-side and supply–side constraints. Innovative subsidies and tax incentives, adequate entrepreneurial support, strengthening institutional arrangement and promoting local community-based organizations such as the cooperatives are the necessary factors in promoting the green technologies in countries like Nepal. International factors such as large scale investment and adequate technology transfer are equally crucial to create a rapid spread and increase affordability of decentralised renewable energy technologies in less-developed economies.

Item Type:

MPRA Paper

Original Title:

The roles and potentials of renewable energy in less-developed economies

Nepal, R. and Jamasb, T. (2011). Reforming Small Power Systems under Political Volatility: The Case of Nepal, Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1133, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge, UK.

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